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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gilbert: Can Trump ignore the courts? Here's what polling shows Americans think
Almost every day now, a new ruling arrives from the federal courts over President Donald Trump's assertion of powers that have not been claimed or used by presidents before him. Some of those rulings have gone Trump's way. Some have gone against him, leading the president and his deputies to lash out at the judiciary and accuse it of overreaching. How does the American public view the simmering Constitutional conflicts between the executive and judicial branches? It's an evolving story, but the polls suggest that in some important ways the public stands more solidly behind the courts than it does the president. Consider these findings from the most recent nationwide poll by the Marquette Law School, taken last month and released May 21: ∎ Americans overwhelmingly recognize the judiciary's role in determining the legality of a president's actions. Asked, 'If the Supreme Court rules against the president in a case, does the president have the power to ignore that ruling, or is the president required to do as the ruling says?' Eighty-four percent of adults say the president must obey the court's ruling. ∎ Asked if court orders temporarily blocking some of Trump's executive actions are a proper use of judicial authority, almost two-thirds (64%) say, 'Yes.' ∎ Asked about Trump's call for the impeachment of federal judges who have ruled against some of his spending freezes and closures of federal agencies, 70% say these judges should not be impeached for such rulings. ∎ Asked about two high-profile immigration-related rulings — one ordering the administration to facilitate the return of a man erroneously deported to El Salvador and the other requiring due process for those being deported — well over 60% of adults supported the high court's rulings against the Trump Administration. On some of these questions, not surprisingly, there is a split between Republicans and people outside the president's party (independents and Democrats). But on others, even Republicans support the courts. Take the broad question of whether Trump can ignore the Supreme Court. There is notably little partisan difference on this: 78% of Republicans, 78% of independents and 93% of Democrats say the president is required to do as the ruling says. Viewed one way, this is not an earth-shattering result. After all, the Constitution gives the courts the authority to decide on the legality of the president's actions. This is plain old civics. But viewed another way, it is a pretty powerful statement, because it is so uncommon these days to find this much agreement across party lines on any high-profile conflict involving this extremely polarizing president. In other words, the prospect of a president ignoring the courts is unappealing even to Trump's core supporters. Of adults who 'strongly approve' of the job Trump is doing, less than a quarter say the president can ignore a Supreme Court ruling, while 76% say he is required to do as the ruling says. On some other questions, a majority of Republicans take Trump's side in these collisions. But even in those cases, support for Trump's position falls far short of his overall approval rating within his party (almost 90%). Instead, a very sizable minority of self-identified Republicans side with the judiciary. Roughly 40% of Republicans say that federal court orders blocking some of Trump's executive actions are a proper use of judicial authority. In the two immigration cases cited above, about 40% of Republicans support the Supreme Court's rulings against Trump. And almost half of Republicans (46%) oppose the call by Trump and his deputies to impeach federal judges who have ruled against the president. One other thing to keep in mind about public opinion in this area is that the Supreme Court is more popular than the president. The court has a net positive rating, Trump has a net negative rating: 53% of adults nationwide approve of the court's performance, while 46% approve of Trump's performance, according to this recent Marquette poll. The court's approval has risen since 2024, while Trump's has declined from its high point at the beginning of his term in January. The court, which has issued rulings in recent years that have pleased (and outraged) both parties, is also far less polarizing than the president. It gets positive ratings from Republicans, who understand that most of the court's members were appointed by GOP presidents. And while it gets much lower ratings from Democrats, those numbers have been improving as the court has come under fire from Trump. The Supreme Court's approval rating among Democrats rose from 19% in January to 31% in May. The polling doesn't tell us how future rulings, or further attacks by Trump on judges, or a deeper constitutional conflict between the president and the courts might affect the public's views of the judiciary in the months and years ahead. It is possible Trump could drive down support for the court within his own party (the polling finds that Republican support is higher for impeaching judges when Trump personally is advocating it than when it is simply members of Congress doing so, a sign of Trump's personal power to move Republican sentiment). But further attacks by Trump on judges are also likely to increase support for the courts outside the president's political base. In Marquette's past four national surveys dating back to last fall, the polling has consistently shown that a huge majority of Americans recognize the courts' role in refereeing disputes over executive power. And so far, that has not been dented by the president's attacks on the courts' actions, motivations and authority. Craig Gilbert provides Wisconsin political analysis as a fellow with Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. Prior to the fellowship, Gilbert reported on politics for 35 years at the Journal Sentinel, the last 25 in its Washington Bureau. His column continues that independent reporting tradition and goes through the established Journal Sentinel editing him on Twitter: @Wisvoter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump defying the courts? Here's where the public stands in polling
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Should parents opt kids out of class over religious objections? What poll finds
Most Americans — including majorities across all religious groups — said they think parents should be allowed to take their children out of classes that conflict with their religious beliefs, a poll found. Seventy percent of respondents said parents should be able to opt their kids out of reading classes that have stories about LGBTQ+ characters if it goes against their religion, according to a May 22 Marquette Law School poll. Parents with school age children were slightly more likely to favor the option to take their kids out than those without children, 72% to 69%, respectively, per the poll. The results come after U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments April 22 in a case on whether public schools impede on religious practices by teaching elementary school students about issues of gender and sexuality without first notifying parents. The court seemed poised to rule in favor of Maryland parents of different religious backgrounds that hope to have more control over if and how their children are taught about these issues that some said conflict with their religious beliefs, NBC News and Reuters reported. The survey of 1,004 U.S. adults was conducted May 5-15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, researchers said. Majorities across five religious groups — born-again Protestants, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics, people with no religion and people of other religions — said parents should be able to take their kids out of school if teaching materials clash with their religious beliefs, the poll found. Born-again Protestants and Roman Catholics had the highest majorities, 87% and 72%, who agreed according to the poll. Forty-two percent of people with no religion, 34% of mainline Protestants and 33% of people of other religions said schools should set the curriculum for all students, rather than letting parents opt their kids out of certain lessons, the poll found. Those who attend religious services more than once a week also showed much higher support for taking their kids out of class when it conflicts with their religion than those who never attend, 91% compared to 61%, per the poll.
Fox News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump's 2nd-term approval ratings dip despite border security gains
Four months into his second tour of duty in the White House, President Donald Trump's approval ratings remain slightly underwater. The president stands at 46% approval and 54% disapproval in a new national survey by Marquette Law School. And Trump is at 42% approval and 52% disapproval in a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Most, but not all, of the latest national surveys place the president's approval rating in negative territory, with a handful indicating Trump is above water. Trump has aggressively asserted executive authority in his second term, overturning longstanding government policy and aiming to make major cuts to the federal workforce through an avalanche of sweeping and controversial executive orders and actions, with some aimed at addressing grievances he has held since his first term. Trump started his second administration with poll numbers in positive territory, but his poll numbers started to slide soon after his late-January inauguration. But two issues where the president remains at or above water in some surveys are border security and immigration, which were front and center in Trump's successful 2024 campaign to win back the White House. Trump stands at 56% approval on border security and 50% approval on immigration in the Marquette Law School poll, which was conducted May 5-15. But Trump's muscular moves on border security and immigration, which have sparked controversy and legal pushback, don't appear to be helping his overall approval ratings. "Immigration is declining now as a salient issue," said Daron Shaw, who serves as a member of the Fox News Decision Team and is the Republican partner on the Fox News poll. Shaw, a politics professor and chair at the University of Texas, said "immigration and especially border security are beginning to lose steam as one of the top-three issues facing the country. Republicans still rate them fairly highly, but Democrats and independents, who had kind of joined the chorus in 2024, have moved on and in particular moved back to the economy as a focal point." Pointing to Trump, Shaw added that "when you have success on an issue, it tends to move to the back burner." Contributing to the slide over the past couple of months in Trump's overall approval ratings was his performance on the economy and, in particular, inflation, which were pressing issues that kept former President Joe Biden's approval ratings well below water for most of his presidency. Trump's blockbuster tariff announcement in early April sparked a trade war with some of the nation's top trading partners and triggered a massive sell-off in the financial markets and increased concerns about a recession. But the markets have rebounded, thanks in part to a truce between the U.S. and China in their tariff standoff as Trump tapped the brakes on his controversial tariff implementation. Trump stood at 37% approval on tariffs and 34% on inflation/cost of living in the Marquette Law School poll. And he stood at 39% on the economy and 33% on cost of living in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was conducted May 16-18. Doug Heye, a longtime GOP strategist and former RNC and Bush administration official, pointed to last year's election, saying, "The main reason Trump won was to lower prices. Prices haven't lowered, and polls are reflecting that." "With the exception of gas prices, there hasn't been much of a reduction in prices," Shaw said. "Prices haven't come down, and it's not clear that people will say the absence of inflation is an economic victory. They still feel that an appreciable portion of their money is going to pay for basic things," he added. "What Trump is realizing is that prices have to come down for him to be able to declare success."
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Donald Trump is now receiving disapproving marks on nearly every key issue - only scoring well with the border
A new national poll shows President Donald Trump 's approval ratings are below 50 percent on nearly every major issue — except border security. A Marquette Law School survey, conducted May 5 to 15, found Trump holds a +12 net approval rating on border security, marking the only issue where he remains in positive territory. Public opinion on immigration is evenly split at 50-50, while Trump sees net disapproval on key topics such as foreign policy (-14), the economy (-16) and the Russia-Ukraine conflict (-20). He fares even worse on economic issues that hit voters' wallets: his handling of tariffs draws a net disapproval of -26 and inflation and the cost of living earn him the lowest marks, with a net approval of -32. Trump's weakest areas of approval, inflation and the cost of living, are the top concern for voters, with 36 percent of Americans identifying it as the most pressing issue facing the country. Most Americans, 61 percent , believe Trump's policies will increase inflation, while only 28 percent think they will reduce it. Among Republicans, confidence in Trump's ability to lower inflation has decreased significantly—from 76 percent in December 2024 to 55 percent by May 2025. His approval on economic issues declined further after announcing new tariffs on April 2, which disrupted markets and fueled inflation fears, even though April data showed a slowdown in price growth. Overall, public sentiment is pessimistic: 58 percent believe the country is on the wrong track and only 32 percent rate the economy as excellent or good. The poll's margin of error is ±3.6 percentage points. Trump receives stronger support on immigration, with 66 percent backing the deportation of undocumented immigrants. However, support drops to 42 percent when those immigrants are described as law-abiding, employed and long-term residents. Only 9 percent of respondents said immigration was the nation's most important issue despite the issue being a major focus in Trump's second term. The poll finds that 46 percent of Americans approve of Trump's performance, while 54 percent disapprove, which remains unchanged since March. This stability mirrors other recent polls, which show his approval ratings have remained steady since mid-April.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Donald Trump's Approval Rating Underwater on Nearly All Key Issues
President Donald Trump's approval rating is in the negative on almost every issue, according to a new poll. A Marquette Law School poll, conducted between May 5-15 among 1,004 adults, shows that Trump is underwater on every issue other than border security, where his net approval rating stands at +12 points, with 56 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving. Immigration ranks second in approval, with Americans evenly split 50-50, resulting in a net approval of zero. Other areas where he's in the negative include foreign policy (-14), the economy (-16), and the Russia-Ukraine conflict (-20). Trump fares far worse on economic issues that hit voters' wallets. His handling of tariffs draws a net disapproval of -26, while his response to inflation and the cost of living ranks lowest, with a net approval of -32. The poll had a margin of error of +/-3.6 percentage points. The stark divide in issue-based approval ratings highlights the challenges his administration faces in maintaining public support. While his approach to border security and immigration continues to resonate with much of the electorate, persistent dissatisfaction with his handling of inflation and tariffs threatens to erode that support. Inflation and the cost of living are not only where Trump performs worst but also the top issue for voters as 36 percent of Americans say it is the most important problem facing the country. At the same time, 61 percent of Americans believe Trump's policies will increase inflation, while 28 percent think they'll reduce it. And among Republicans, belief in Trump's ability to reduce inflation has steadily declined. In December 2024, 76 percent of GOP voters believed his policies would lower inflation. By May 2025, that number had dropped to 55 percent. Trump's approval rating on the economy has been in decline since he announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs on April 2. The move roiled markets and sparked fears about inflation. Despite the uncertainty, the Labor Department reported slower annual price increases in April. Nonetheless, the poll shows that the national mood remains pessimistic. Just 42 percent of Americans say the country is headed in the right direction, while 58 percent say it is on the wrong track. On the economy, 32 percent rate conditions as excellent or good, while 69 percent say things are not so good or poor. But on the issue of immigration, Trump fares slightly better. The poll shows that voters are largely supportive of Trump's aggressive immigration agenda, which has included mass deportations and a shift toward stricter enforcement and reduced legal immigration pathways. Some 66 percent of respondents favor deporting illegal immigrants, although support drops to 42 percent when respondents are told the immigrants have jobs, no criminal records, and have lived in the U.S. for years. Trump's floated proposal to send U.S. citizens convicted of certain crimes to prisons in El Salvador finds support from 40 percent of Americans, with backing strongest among Republicans. This reflects optimism about Trump's policy on border security, which has been evident in some polls, including the latest Fox News poll from April and the latest Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, which showed Trump underwater on every issue other than border security. Nonetheless, despite being a major theme of Trump's presidency, immigration ranks as the most important issue for just 9 percent of respondents. Overall, the poll shows that 46 percent approve of the job he is doing as president and 54 percent disapprove. This is unchanged from the Marquette national poll in March. That is in line with other polls, which have shown that while Trump's approval ratings have not improved dramatically since mid-April, they have also not deteriorated further. For example, a YouGov poll conducted May 6–8 pegged Trump's approval at 42 percent, unchanged from the previous week, while disapproval ticked down slightly from 52 to 50 percent. Similarly, a Quantus Insights survey from May 5–7 showed no significant movement, reinforcing the idea that Trump's numbers have stabilized—for now. But other polls have shown Trump's approval rating ticking up. That includes Newsweek's tracker, which shows that Trump's approval rating currently stands at 47 percent, while 50 percent disapprove. Earlier this month, Trump's approval rating stood at 44 percent, while his disapproval was firmly in the 50s. The latest Insider Advantage poll, conducted between May 17-19 among 1,000 likely voters, gave Trump a net approval rating of +11 points, with 55 percent approving and 44 percent disapproving. That was up from a net approval rating of +2 points in early May, when 46 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved. And the latest Morning Consult poll also showed a surge in Trump's approval rating, with 48 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, giving the president a net approval rating of -2 points, up from -7 in early May when 45 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved. That is his highest approval rating since mid-March. The latest J.L. Partners/Daily Mail poll conducted between May 13 and 14 among 1,003 registered voters, put Trump's approval rating at 50 percent, up 5 points from 45 percent in April. The most recent YouGov/Economist poll, conducted between May 16-19 among 1,710 adults, showed a smaller surge, with his approval rating at 43 percent, up from 42 percent in the previous poll, and his disapproval at 51 percent, down from 52 percent. Marquette poll director Charles Franklin said: "The much higher rating of inflation and cost of living across all party groups compared to immigration is indicative of the risk Trump runs, despite his relatively high ratings on the border and immigration, in taking actions that threaten to increase inflation." Trump's approval rating could fluctuate in the coming weeks, depending on the outcome of key events, including critical negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving tariff situation and concerns about a recession. Related Articles Trump's Approval Rating Slides to Match Lowest This Term, New Poll ShowsHow MAGA Are Republicans? 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